RadioRoryIf jumping off a bridge, trolling hobbits, or jet-boating aren’t really you’re thing, there’s still plenty to see and do in Queenstown.
It was the third time in a row I lucked out with a terrific AirBnB. In Hokitika, I scored a cool oceanfront apartment with hosts who were happy to share a drink. In Wanaka, the AirBnB setup was a group of small cabins all tied to a large central kitchen and gathering space (a great way to meet people). This time, I rented a single room in a home in the Kelvin Heights neighborhood. The house is directly across the lake from busy downtown Queenstown, but the water taxi ride more than made up for the longer commute.
Queenstown is expensive and so are many of the activities. Any skier will tell you that lift tickets are pricey no matter where you are. It’s also expensive to jump from a tower with a rubber band tied around your ankle. The tourist/ticket offices downtown have details on all the high-energy stuff to do. It’s just a matter of how much adrenaline you want pumping…and at what price.
I opted for the Skyline. (Don’t judge!)
You ride the enclosed gondola to the top and have the option of taking it or a luge ride back down. The luge ride seems less popular if you’re over 12. If you stick around on the summit, there are dinner packages and even a stargazing experience when the weather’s right.
Seeing the sets from the hobbit movies is of NO interest to me, but that doesn’t mean you should avoid Glenorchy.
Located along the same lake as Queenstown, it’s a fantastic 45-minute ride along the waterfront to the tiny, picturesque town. Now the list of things to actually DO in Glenorchy is short. Very short. It’s a one-horse town and I didn’t see a horse! Still, I loved it. A great outdoor lunch and incredible scenery still leaves me out of adjectives.
After Queenstown, it was time to set out for Christchurch. The GPS says it’s a six-hour drive, but I figure it will be twice that amount. I booked a hotel room half-way thru near Lake Tekapo. Somehow, I found ANOTHER place that’s popular with Chinese tour groups! Not five minutes after I checked in two bus loads showed up.
The nearby Church of the Good Shepherd is popular on the tour bus circuit. The parking lot is five-times bigger than the church! Heck, the crowd from one bus wouldn’t be able to fit inside the tiny stone church that is perched on the water’s edge. The church is also popular with the selfie-stick crowd. It must be a holy place. I found myself repeatedly invoking the lord’s name.
There’s a nice memorial that’s a short walk away too.
According to the plaque: “This monument was erected by Runholders of the Mackenzie County and those who also appreciate the value of the collie dog, without the help of which the grazing of this mountain country would be impossible.“ The Trip Adviser reviews of the site are so funny, with people seemingly upset that “It’s just a statue of a dog!” And you were expecting what exactly???
Just a couple more scenic pics and then Christchurch.
A city I thought would have recovered from an earthquake six-years before.